Maximum PC - UK (2020-03)

your data packets move through the Tor network [Image A],

each relay node unpeels one layer of encryption, which points

to the next node, until the final exit node is reached, and the

unencrypted data is passed to the end destination.

>> So, the entry node doesn’t know what the data is or

where it’s going, but keep in mind it does know where you are.

Intermediate relay nodes don’t know where the data is going or

what the data is, while the final exit node doesn’t know where the

data has come from, but it does know the destination, and it can

interrogate the data unless you’re using a secured HTTPS site.

Of course, you also need to bear in mind that the final destination

can know everything about you if you’re not taking care to

anonymize yourself correctly.

3

USING TOR
If we were pedantic, we’d point out that if you’re
truly worried about privacy, you should dump
Windows and switch to Linux, but let’s stay in the real
world. The Tor Project has done a grand job of making
it super-easy to install and run; it’s not much more
complex than going to http://www.torproject.org, grabbing the
installer, running that, and using the Tor Browser.

You can ignore the “Configure” options when Tor is
first run—they’re for connecting via a proxy, and can be
set from within the browser later if need be.
If the Tor browser looks familiar, it’s because it’s
©^ a respin of Firefox, tooled to work directly with Tor,

EF
F.O

RG

,^ C

C^ B

Y^3

.^0 U

S

Take a look at how much

privacy protection Tor and

HTTPS offer when used.

Without either Tor or HTTPS

at every step in the process,

anybody with access to your

connection can potentially

snoop on all your activity,

including the destination

site, your username and

password, your user data,

and your location.

Using HTTPS helps to

protect your user data,

and your username and

password at all stages.

Using Tor masks your

destination site, username

and password, data, and, to a

certain degree, your location.

Adding a VPN would further

protect your location details,

but we should point out that

there could be government

bodies directly accessing

ISP data or the site.com

services via unknown

snooping programs.

TOR AND HTTPS IN USE

SITE.COM

USER/PW

DATA

LOCATION

SITE.COM•

• USER/PW•
  
  
  • DATA•
    LOCATION
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM•

• USER/PW•
  
  
  • DATA•
    LOCATION
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM•

• USER/PW•
  
  
  • DATA•
    LOCATION
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM•

• USER/PW•
  
  
  • DATA•
    LOCATION
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM

USER/PW

DATA

LOCATION•

SITE.COM

USER/PW

DATA

LOCATION•

SITE.COM

USER/PW

DATA

LOCATION•

SITE.COM

• USER/PW
  
  
  • DATA
    LOCATION•
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM

• USER/PW
  
  
  • DATA
    LOCATION•
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM•

• USER/PW•
  
  
  • DATA•
    LOCATION
  
  
  
  

SITE.COM•

USER/PW•

DATA•

LOCATION

SITE.COM•

USER/PW•

DATA•

LOCATION•

SITE.COM•

• USER/PW
  
  
  • DATA
    LOCATION•
  
  
  
  

KEY

HIDDEN BY TOR

HIDDEN BY HTTPS

INTERNET CONNECTION

EAVESDROPPING

DATA SHARING

TOR NETWORK

maximumpc.com MAR 2020 MAXIMUMPC 61